Car design in 1986 was notable for the use of technology for both manufacturing and product, but from a styling point of view, the development in aerodynamics had many advantages too. Along with improved fuel economy, the improved airflow suppressed noise, made cars more stable and therefore improve traction and speed. Handy points for the […]
1980s Car aerodynamics Read More »
1988 saw the last of a handful of a diverse range of cars, but rather disproportionately of a coupe persuasion. The Alfa Romeo GTV was an exception, and it took the company several years to line up a successor. Imports actually ended in 1987, but could still be found lurking in dealerships well into 1988.
Selection of cars that ceased in 1988 Read More »
1975 was not a good year for buying a new car, the energy crisis still cast a gloomy outlook and inflation pushed prices up as demand slumped. But there was a prospect of improvement on the horizon, which was relayed by the confident choice of new cars announced for 1975. We’ve picked 10 middle to
There were plenty of option if you were in a position to buy a large saloon car in 1982. We’ll set a budget of 8.5K to 10K for this review. There is a real motley crew of prestigious brands, value-oriented cars loaded with everything, FWD load carriers and cars designed to go on forever. We’ll
Early ’80s Executive cars Read More »
The year 2000 offered some tantalising options if you wanted to buy a 200bhp+ 10-year-old sports car for less than 10K. These top-end coupes offered a refinement yet outright brute force and as long as it had service history, yet to become a liability. The Quattro was in its final throes but the car had
Buying a fast coupe in the year 2000. Read More »
Despite the ‘80s being known as the decade of the hatchback car, it was evident that mid-sized saloon cars still had huge appeal. Perceived security, with more balanced styling and prestige, may have played a part in their continuing success. We use the turn of the decade, as a vantage point to review a selection
Late ’80s mid-market saloons Read More »
The V8 engine has become something of a rarity these days, with the economy and environment consideration often overweighing the power, sound and smoothness benefits. Traditionally the reserve of North American or Australian cars, the format was also comparatively common in European sports models. Current V6 engines seem to offer a similar horsepower, but weigh
Classic V8 Saloons Read More »
A lot of consideration goes into the interior design aesthetics, material and how the ambience makes the driver feel when driving the car. I’ve picked a handful of executive cars from the early ‘70s that were noted for their driver comfort. Not a complete list so I suspect this will be continued in another post.
Executive cars from the early ‘70s Read More »
Antiquing and requisitions was a decent way to earn money in the ‘80s, the availability of antique grandfather clocks, fireplaces and household fittings were still plentiful as house owners sought to replace their beautiful pre-war interiors with ‘80s minimalist modern styles. The large estate car was ideal for multi-tasking duties, combining comfort with cargo space.
Big ’80s Estate cars Read More »
Supercars. It’s telling that the alternative to buying one of these cars when they were current would actually be buying a house! However, to keep abreast of the extraordinary costs of maintenance and upkeep, it’s clear that you couldn’t take it to your local mechanic, and in many cases, the parts availability are not exactly
Fuel Crisis Supercars Read More »
